“There’s video. I’ll send it.” Doxx coughed. “So as long as everything goes well, how long do you think you’ll be there?”
“Two weeks, max.” Running a hand down my face, I let out a deep sigh. “I absolutely hated running out on you guys. I want to be there with you, in Madrid tonight.”
“Take care of your sister, Ay-ay. We’re holding our own. And when we’re all back in the city, we can book our studio time and get our album done. Sound good?”
“Like a goddamn dream come true,” I confessed.
“I miss you, Aaron.” He laughed at himself. “We spent so much time together and now you’re suddenly not here and I’m just… Well, I keep finding myself wanting to turn and say something to you.”
“I miss you too, Doxx. I am going to get this done as fast as I can, get home, and get back to you, and the band.”
Every word was true. I wanted to say more, but it wasn’t the time. Not with an ocean between us.
Aaron
Ihanded the keys to Wendy. She took them, and gave me a smile.
“You sure you don’t want to stay?” she asked.
“Nah, I have to get back. The guys and I have a record to make, and I have a new apartment to furnish.” I grabbed her hand. “We’re going to come for Thanksgiving, I swear. Now that we know each other, there’s no reason for us to not be there.”
Olivia’s head ducked out of the living room and stared at me. “Bring Maddox?”
The request of an eleven year old tween, of course. “I am sure that I can convince him.”
She squealed and ran up the stairs to her room. Her mother shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re really the drummer for her favorite band.”
“She’s not going to shut up about the Skype for weeks, you know that, right?”
Wendy laughed. “Oh, I know.”
Once Olivia had realized who I was talking about with Maddox and the guys, she went ape over the fact that I knew them—and then even more insane over me being the new drummer. She walked around for three days bragging about how she was related to someone in Robot Servant. It was the cutest damn thing I’d seen in a long time.
On their way back from Spain, the guys had called from the airport to check in with me. I’d taken the call in the living room, and she’d been shocked that she could hear Maddox on the phone. So, I switched us to Skype and pulled her over so she could really talk to them. They were totally cool with her and it was probably the best day of her eleven years.
Showing up with Doxx in tow for Thanksgiving? Yeah, that would blow the poor kid’s head off. I was so doing it. I totally got where she was coming from.
“I am sorry this is the way you had to come here and find us all again, Aaron, but I’m not sorry you did meet us.”
“Thanks, Wendy,” I said and gave her a hug.
“The offer stands to let Violet stay here while she finishes high school.” She nodded out the window to the rental car.
“I’ll let her make the call if she wants. I’ll call you when we get in and I promise we’ll be in touch.”
I headed out the door and found Bennett waiting for me. He grabbed me and gave me a huge hug. “We really did miss you, man. Don’t be a stranger, we have a lot of years to make up for.”
“I won’t, I swear.” I returned the hug enthusiastically. I wasn’t lying. I’d spent eleven years on my own, alone, thinking no one in my family cared. Meanwhile, it was just my father playing keep away. “Keep the kids happy. I’ll have presents and band members for Thanksgiving.”
“You will have a fan for life,” Bennett said.
“I think I already do.” I laughed. I shook his hand one more time and headed down the walk to the SUV I had to rent for all of Violet’s stuff.
Hopping in the driver’s side, I started it up and looked over at my sister. “You ready for this?”
“Yes,” she said. She hadn’t smiled much lately, but there was a glint in her eyes this time. Getting her away from this place, even if she decided to come back, was the right thing to do. My gut was telling me she had no interest in dealing with her peers in high school when they heard what happened.
Just as Robert had predicted, the District Attorney declined to press charges against Violet. He quietly ordered all records sealed, which also meant she’d never have to tell anyone about this if she didn’t want to.
